Foothill College vs. MiraCosta College

Comparable Facts

Compare Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, CA with MiraCosta College in Oceanside, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Foothill College is larger than MiraCosta College based on total student enrollment (12,949 students vs. 11,478 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Foothill College is located in Los Altos Hills, CA (Large Suburban setting); MiraCosta College is in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Foothill College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Foothill College 26:1; MiraCosta College 18:1.

Foothill College vs. MiraCosta College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Foothill College or MiraCosta College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at MiraCosta College than Foothill College ($9,044 vs. $10,805).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Foothill College are 39.4% lower than at MiraCosta College ($20,793 vs. $34,328).
• Foothill College is 35.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $407 more per year; $1,565.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 29.1% higher at Foothill College than at MiraCosta College (about $2,840 more per year; $12,590.00 vs. $9,750.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at MiraCosta College than at Foothill College (81% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by MiraCosta College students is 18.7% larger than aid received by Foothill College students ($5,013 vs. $4,223).

Foothill College vs. MiraCosta College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Foothill College or MiraCosta College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between MiraCosta College and Foothill College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Foothill College - Open admission; MiraCosta College - Open admission.

Foothill College vs. MiraCosta College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Foothill College and MiraCosta College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Foothill College earn a median of about $26,400 more per year than MiraCosta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,400 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have a $4,472 lower median loan debt than Foothill College graduates ($4,500 vs. $8,972).
• Among borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Foothill College graduates ($46 vs. $92).
• More MiraCosta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Foothill College students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 46%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.